2 Answers
2

Best way to find out is to try! You can load a livecd to test it out without messing your system up. Also, Ubuntu 12.10 has removed Unity 2D but I think they have done some work to make it auto fail back to something your machine will handle if your hardware can't handle Unity 3D.

Thanks, Elijah! Why is it called a "live" cd? A cd may be the way to go for me bc I have a limited data plan. I'd like to think I'm reasonably tech savy but Ubuntu may as well be from Uranus to me. Where do I send away for the cd?
–
RogrrrSep 20 '12 at 20:13

It is traditionally called a LiveCD because you just put it in and it loads the whole OS into memory, never touching your disk. When you turn the computer off (disc removed) it is exactly the way it was before you put the cd in. ---- Now, it is much more common to make a Live USB, also saves a poor disc from the landfill.
–
Elijah LynnSep 20 '12 at 20:31

Yeah. If XP works reasonably, you are going to have awesome experience with Ubuntu. 2GB is totally enough! Most likely your laptop is going to gain another life if you install Ubuntu 12.04 on it. So go ahead and give it a try!